Origin and Early Years of the Largest Educational Library of Transcarpathia Formation (1945 – 1947)

The paper examines the peculiarities of the formation and early years of one of the largest book collections in Transcarpathia – the library of Uzhhorod University. The Scientific Library of Uzhhorod National University is not only the largest educational library in Transcarpathia, but also the largest book collection in the region. The date of its origin is the end of 1945. The library, together with its university, undergone a difficult path of its formation, within the first difficult postwar years. Despite the difficulties of forming a book collection, the state decisions of that time became the basis for filling itsfunds, for many libraries and educational institutions of the state began to provide the library with educational and scientific literature, on the basis ofstate decrees. Books from private libraries and those of educational and church institutions, which were closed by the decision of the state, also flowedinto the newly created book collection. Despite state support by means of replenishment its collection, the university library felt a significant interference by Soviet ideology, which was most noticeable in the unique publications that came to its holdings from the monastery libraries. Despite the ideology of physical destruction of books, the content of which according to the state censorship contradicted the ideology of the time, the library of UzhhorodUniversity still managed to preserve the unique book collections, including editions dating back to the reign period of the Bishop of Mukachevo GreekCatholic Eparchy, the great educator of the region – Andriy Bachynsky. The preservation of a valuable collection of book editions, including rare manuscripts, first editions, European editions of the XVII-XVIII centuries, the library considers as its responsible mission.The study of the formation of the library of Uzhhorod University is preconditioned by its scientific need. Resting on the basis of historical sources itaims at the analysisof the origins of the most valuable book collections stored in its funds.To reveal the characteristics of the first stage of the library formation,general methods of scientific researchwere used, and namely: the method ofhistorical analysis, the method of synthesis, statistical analysis, the principles of historicism, objectivity, systematics.The scientific noveltyof the paperis that it is the first attempt to explore the historical background of the library, to find out the origins of rare editions of its most valuable book collections, to identify the influence of party ideology on the formation of the library fund of Uzhhorod University within the period from 1945 to 1947.